Civic Leader Julie Fisher Cummings Joins Palm Health Foundation Board of Trustees

February 27, 2023

Julie Fisher Cummings, Co-founder and Chairman of the Lovelight Fund, has been elected to the Board of Trustees at Palm Health Foundation. Ms. Cummings joins a board of seventeen community leaders chaired by David Wisehaupt, Managing Director of Wisehaupt, Bray Asset Management/Hightower.


Ms. Cummings, a West Palm Beach resident, has dedicated over four decades of her life to civic leadership by bridging her knowledge and expertise across academia, public service, and policy reform. Her success in advocating for responsible policies on health, education, and philanthropy on behalf of underserved and marginalized children and families made her a perfect match for Palm Health Foundation’s mission: To inspire and fund solutions for better health in Palm Beach County through community collaboration.


Patrick McNamara, President and CEO of Palm Health Foundation, recognizes the value Ms. Cummings adds to the foundation as a trustee and member of its philanthropy committee. “Julie brings extensive connections and learning from her philanthropic and leadership experience to help us leverage collaborations and impact,” McNamara said. “Her knowledge of public health, combined with her expertise in forging effective public-private partnerships and new funding networks in Florida and across the U.S., are pivotal to Palm Health Foundation’s evolution.” 

In Florida, Ms. Cummings currently serves as Chair of the Board for the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and is a founding co-chair of the Promise Fund of Florida and the Florida Women’s Funding Alliance, which is driving policy change to enhance the quality of life for women and girls. As incoming Chair of the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation in Michigan, she was a founding sponsor of the Southeastern Michigan Early Childhood Funders Collaborative. In both states, she has held board leadership positions with numerous organizations, including the United Way and the Jewish Women’s Foundations, where she is a founding member.


Nationally, as the Co-founder and Chair of the Lovelight Fund, Ms. Cummings focuses on domestic child sex trafficking, undeserved women and girls, and early childhood education and care. Her commitment to awareness and education led her to serve as the Executive Producer of I am Jane Doe, an award-winning documentary about domestic child sex trafficking, highlighting the legal battle against Backpage.com, which ultimately led to its discontinuation and seizure by the FBI. She has also created and taught a graduate-level course in Child Policy for the University of Miami, Department of Public Health Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine.


For her heartfelt dedication to civic leadership, Ms. Cummings has received numerous awards, including the Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Women of Distinction Award, the Ryan Licht Sang Bi-Polar Foundation Shining Star Award, Alternatives for Girls Role Model of the Year, and the Anti-Defamation League Woman of Achievement.


“I’m honored to serve alongside dedicated community leaders to help advance cutting edge solutions to address mental health issues and enhance brain health in our county,” said Ms. Cummings. “I deeply admire the way Palm Health Foundation raises community voices, leads in partnership with local stakeholders, and advocates for policy change to amplify their impact.”


For more information about Palm Health Foundation, please visit palmhealthfoundation.org. 


January 27, 2026
Healthier Boynton Beach, a Palm Health Foundation initiative, recently celebrated the unwavering dedication of family caregivers at its 9th Annual Caregivers Recognition Luncheon at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton Beach. More than 150 guests gathered for an afternoon of appreciation, connection, and joy. "Caring Hearts & Strong Hands – Celebrating the Love and Dedication of Family Caregivers," honored 130 family caregivers during a celebration that featured laughter, music, and meaningful moments, giving caregivers a well-deserved respite from their daily responsibilities. Montre Bennett opened the program with a mindfulness moment, followed by Boynton Beach Mayor Rebecca Shelton’s heartfelt welcome and personal caregiving story. Vice Mayor Woodrow Hay delivered the invocation before lunch, then handed the microphone to event host Rod-Z, who entertained guests with comedy, songs, and dancing. The JSharp Band provided outstanding live music that had caregivers on their feet throughout the afternoon.  Highlights of the event included keynote speaker Charlotte Wright’s moving message acknowledging the challenges and profound rewards of family caregivers’ service, and the presentation of the prestigious Caregiver Award to Angela T. Williams of Delray Beach, recognizing her extraordinary dedication and selfless service to her husband.
January 27, 2026
Thanks to a grant from Palm Health Foundation , The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens (ANSG) in West Palm Beach recently hosted a Day of Wellness for Palm Beach County School District Behavioral Health Professionals, who dedicate their lives to providing behavioral and mental health services to students. Seventy frontline mental health staff enjoyed a day of reflection, relaxation, rejuvenation, self-care, and professional development. The Day of Wellness was created in recognition of professionals’ deep commitment to the county’s youth and the emotional toll of the high-impact services they provide as challenges among school-age children continue to rise. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health , between 2016 and 2023, the prevalence of diagnosed depression among 12–17-year-olds increased by 45 percent, and diagnosed anxiety increased by 61 percent.  Set amidst ANSG’s beautiful and peaceful landscape of the sculpture gardens and the historic, inspirational Artist Studio, the program featured a series of therapeutic experiences led by local expert facilitators, including Creating a Garden of Gratitude and Hope, a therapeutic experience blending visual arts with personal reflections by Tiffany Mitchell and Amy Case of Rhythms of Hope, and Music for Mindfulness and Intention led by Bree Lukosavich. Participants also enjoyed creating a watercolor mindscape with art therapist Alicia Ballestas, exploring self-care with Shabrae Jackson, joining in a pollinator planting activity with ANSG Master Gardener CJ McCartney, and closing the day with a drumming circle led by Abasi Hanif.
November 26, 2025
The Palm Health Foundation Endowment Fund provides the financial foundation for long-term strategic action.
November 21, 2025
This fall, Healthier Glades , a Palm Health Foundation Healthier Together initiative , hosted a celebration event with community and partners to honor the resident-led work accomplished over the years of the initiative’s existence. In addition to food and fellowship, attendees shared aspirations for the initiative’s future and reflected on highlights, such as: The impact of Healthier Glades’ mini grants offerings Reduction of youth violence through collaborations with the “Dads on Duty” initiative The air quality initiative spearheaded in partnership with PHF Trustee Dr. Lisa Wiese The Safety Walk – an effort to identify unsafe areas on children’s walk-to-school routes, leading to the establishment of flashing lights in critical areas Resident connection to Mental Health First Aid training , strengthening the recognition that mental health is health Palm Health Foundation is honored to be part of the work that continues to advance health in the Glades communities.
November 21, 2025
Palm Health Foundation ’s October 2025 Train the Brain community health campaign, themed “Brain Health Across the Lifespan,” offered opportunities all month long, drawing nearly 300 community members to connect with local brain health champions, access practical, science-backed information, and take meaningful steps to support brain health for themselves, their families, and their neighbors – at every age and stage of life. Train the Brain inspired local organizational collaborations from Belle Glade to Boynton Beach to offer a range of community programs to help residents of all ages recognize that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body. At “Arts on the Muck,” Glades community elders engaged in arts activities, memory boosting games, music, and movement during a football-themed afternoon. The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum joined with The Center for Child Counseling to bring the brain-boosting benefits of yoga, art making, and music to children, while their parents and caregivers learned practical, science-based tips to support brain health and emotional well-being at home.  “Collaborations such as these create partnership opportunities though which we can further strengthen our communities,” said Ljubica Ciric, Senior Director of Strategic Impact, Center for Child Counseling.
November 21, 2025
Palm Health Foundation ’s Scholarship Reception on October 28, 2025, brought together nursing and behavioral health scholars with their donors for an inspiring evening at The Center for Philanthropy in West Palm Beach, FL. Over 90 guests gathered in the center’s tropical courtyard to celebrate 62 scholarship recipients, with musical entertainment provided by orchestra students from Grace Notes Music Foundation . Together with donors, Palm Health Foundation has awarded more than $4.6 million in health professions scholarships since 2001.  Gratitude flowed throughout the evening as scholars met their scholarship donors—many for the first time—and two former recipients shared their personal stories of overcoming barriers to continue their education and become health professions leaders thanks to The Debra Coffman Howe Nursing Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation. Dr. Alice Brumley spoke about how her scholarship supported her through the challenges of nursing during the pandemic. “More than financial support, it was knowing that someone believed in me, and my community was supporting me,” she said. Today, Dr. Brumley serves as Interim Director of the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center at FAU, leading compassionate, community-centered care for individuals and families affected by memory disorders.
August 27, 2025
Community campaign to highlight brain health at every stage of life, aiming to boost resilience and prevent neurological issues. 
August 21, 2025
Applicants must attend at least one workshop to be eligible for Healthier Glades 2026 mini grants.